The title of today’s post comes from a kid’s song we sing at church.
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?
Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?
Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?
Is that what you do? So do I!
Our summertime is not exactly looking like that. Our summertime involves Sesame Street marathons, aimless internet surfing, cranking on the thermostat, and silly clapping alphabet games I make up so that I can feel like I did some mothering in a day.
Honestly, I’ve been at a bit of a loss. Atti’s either too young/uninterested/unable to participate in the typical summertime activities, and all he is interested in doing is an indoor thing. Except driving. He loves to drive around, but the AC in my car is going and it has been wicked hot here lately. So I’ve had to choose between keeping cool, or feeling like a “good”, fun, active mom.
When I was a kid I hated summertime. I didn’t like being hot, I didn’t like being dirty, I wanted to sit in a cool room and read my books. I probably shouldn’t be mad at myself if my kid’s turning out the same way, right?
And yet, every time I ask Atti if he wants to go outside he cheers. So I spread the blanket and grab some books and then he refuses to open his eyes in the sun, or screams at the touch of the grass, and we’re back inside before I even settle down. He’s like a dog that wants to be let out right until he’s let out.
So we’re back inside now, laying under the ceiling fan and watching more Sesame Street. But at least it’s educational, right?